Omani oil majors in talks on loans worth combined $4.35 billion

Two major Omani state-owned oil companies are in negotiations regarding loan facilities worth a combined $4.35 billion, sources aware of the matter said on Sunday, as the duo turn to bank markets for finance in the wake of lower oil prices.Reuters | April 18, 2016, 07:04 IST

DUBAI: Two major Omani state-owned oil companies are in negotiations regarding loan facilities worth a combined $4.35 billion, sources aware of the matter said on Sunday, as the duo turn to bank markets for finance in the wake of lower oil prices.

Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), majority-owned by Oman but with stakes held by Royal Dutch Shell, Total and Partex Oil and Gas, is seeking a $2.5 billion loan to fund its projects, two sources aware of the matter said.

Meanwhile, state energy investment firm Oman Oil Company has contacted banks about amending the terms of an existing $1.85 billion loan originally signed in September 2014, primarily aimed at increasing the length of the facility, according to one of the two sources, plus two further sources.

Oman Oil declined to comment, while PDO didn't respond to a request for comment. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity as the information is not public.

The continuation of the lower oil prices environment is stretching state finances in Gulf countries, with Oman in particular feeling the squeeze as it lacks the huge fiscal reserves of some of its neighbours.

In the year to November 2015, Oman's budget deficit was 4.07 billion rials ($10.57 billion), compared with a 233.4 million rial surplus a year earlier, according to the latest official data.

This situation is forcing state-owned companies which had traditionally relied on the Omani government for funding to turn to international markets.

Minister of Oil and Gas Mohammad bin Hamad al-Rumhy told reporters in February that PDO will in future borrow abroad if it needs to finance projects rather than ask for more funds from its shareholders.

Meanwhile, Oman Oil is already speaking with banks about raising a $1 billion loan for its exploration and production subsidiary, its chief executive told Reuters last month.

The $1.85 billion loan which Oman Oil is seeking to revise was its first borrowing from international loan markets and was supported by 16 banks, according to a statement at the time.

PDO is the sultanate's top oil and gas exploration and production company, accounting for 70 percent of the crude oil production and nearly all of the the country's natural gas supply, according to its website. ($1 = 0.3850 Omani rials)